'Protect victims, not terrorists’ Millions of French tune in as right-wing rivals battle

'Protect victims, not terrorists’ Millions of French tune in as right-wing rivals battle

THE first live debate between the seven right-wing candidates for the French presidency took place on Thursday night with rivals furiously debating key issues, including Islam, immigration and terrorism.

Pulling in 5.6 million viewers, the debate was the first of three, and was designed to help voters decide which candidate will represent the centre-right in France’s 2017 election.

The right-wingers were questioned over several topics, including the ‘dire’ state of the French economy, but it was their uncensored comments on radical Islamists and immigration that viewers found most interesting, and, in light of the high threat from terrorism, most relevant.

Former head of state Nicolas Sarkozy, who was relentlessly ‘bullied’ for his string of legal woes, said that the “most dangerous” people on the government’s terrorist watch list – the ‘S’ list – should be sent to prison “out of precaution,” even if they did not have a criminal record.

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Alain Juppé said suspected Islamic militants should be under surveillance

Mr Sarkozy said the government should be “protecting victims, and not terrorists”. He added there are currently more than 12,000 radicalised Muslims in France.

A foreigner threatening to attack France should not have the right to remain in the country

Bruno Le Maire

Bruno Le Maire, a former agriculture minister, said that all non-French citizens whose name was on the infamous ‘S’ list should be sent back to their home country because “a foreigner threatening to attack France should not have the right to remain in the country”.

François Fillon, who was named prime minister by Mr Sarkozy in 2007, took a more radical stance. According to him, any French person fighting alongside ISIS in Iraq or Syria should be stripped of their nationality.

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Bruno Le Maire siad all foreigners considered a threat should be deported

And Alain Juppé, who defended his vision for what he calls France’s “happy identity,” said that suspected Islamic militants should be placed under surveillance but not sent to prison.

He said that doing so would allow counter-terrorism units to watch their every move, and shed new light on ISIS’s ever-evolving terror network.

Mr Juppé came across as the most moderate, and, according to an Elabe opinion poll, “won” the debate, after successfully wooing 32 per cent of eligible voters.

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Mr Sarkozy said French supporters of ISIS should be stripped of their nationality

The seven candidates also spoke about the Islamic veil, a highly controversial subject, which has become even more of a taboo following the unprecedented wave of jihadist-led attacks on French soil.

Mr Le Maire said that wearing the burka – the full-face veil – in public places where it is banned should be made a criminal offence.

At the moment, a Muslim woman who defies the ban faces a €150 – £135 – fine.